USA > New York > Kings County > Flatbush > History of the Reformed Church of Flatbush, N.Y., 1807-1907 > Part 5
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6
" That Rev. T. E. Davis, D. B. Hendricks, Jacob Snyder and E. L. Griffin be a committee to estimate the cost of a new ceiling."
Chairman Brink reported that the Ulster White Lead Company " would pay $100.00 per year to any
REV. GEORGE J. VAN NESTE.
II5
SUCCESSION OF MINISTERS.
minister whom the people at Glenerie wished to have preach there." It was agreed that the Flatbush pastor would continue his services there once in two weeks and receive the extra compensation.
Consistory met June 16th, when the Ceiling Com- mittee reported and it was resolved: "That the new ceiling be of boards; That the work be done by con- tract ; That D. B. Hendricks draw up the specfication papers ; That Jacob Snyder give out the contract for the work." Harris Burhans contracted to do the work, materials being furnished, for $44.00. At this time the consistory, with the approval of the congregation, applied to Classis for permission to change the method of choosing elders and deacons from the third to the second method as prescribed by the Constitution ; that is, election by all the members of the church instead of by the consistory only. Of late years, however, the members of the church have not availed themselves of their right to participate in the election of the consis- tory.
The evening of July 17th Mr. Van Neste, on his return from preaching service at Glenerie, drove off an embankment by the Esopus creek and sustained severe injuries from which he did not fully recover for some months.
December 9th, 1897, consistory resolved : "That the
116
REFORMED CHURCH OF FLATBUSH, N. Y.
sexton be requested to provide unfermented wine for the Lord's Supper the following Sabbath." During that winter, by invitation, the elders and deacons with their wives dined with the pastor and his family.
March 3d, 1888, the consistory decided that " accord- ing to the best authorities the female members of the church are entitled to vote at the election of elders and deacons."
At this meeting resolutions in regard to the death of Elder Alanson Osterhoudt, which occurred March 26th, were adopted and ordered to be recorded in the minutes of consistory.
The report to Classis for the spring of 1888 states that the entire debt of the church has been removed.
. We find that $248.09 was contributed to benevo. lence, which exceeds by $137.37 the amount of the year previous. ' Three prayer meetings have been maintained with favorable interest." Three Sunday schools are reported with total enrollment of 284.
June Ist it was resolved : " That we resume the use of the Form in our liturgy for the reception of mem- bers into the church."
In the fall of 1888 new lamps for the church were purchased, and the roadway around the church and parsonage was graveled.
November 13th the consistory met at the parsonage,
117
SUCCESSION OF MINISTERS.
the Rev. A. J. Sebring of Katsbaan presiding. The pastor presented a letter of resignation, which was accepted. Resolutions were then adopted, which are in part as follows: "Resolved, That we place upon record our high appreciation of the fidelity and efficiency with which our pastor has performed his labors among us, and the degree of divine favor which has attended his work.
" That we commend him to the people, to whom he now departs as a sound gospel preacher and as a faith- ful pastor."
Mr. Van Neste was called to the Reformed church of Pottersville, N. J., which he served until 1892. He died January 18th, 1898, in his 76th year.
We are indebted to the manual of Dr. Corwin for the following memoir : "The life of Mr. Van Neste was characterized by conscientiousness in preaching and work, gratitude for blessing upon his labors, interest in souls, and special interest in young people and in direct- ing young men into the ministry of the Gospel. Ten men prepared under him for the ministry, most of whom he had welcomed into the church."
I18
REFORMED CHURCH OF FLATBUSH, N. Y.
REV. RICHARD DEWITT.
The Rev. Richard DeWitt, while pastor of the Reformed Church of Wallkill, N. Y., was unanimously called to the Flatbush church, March 28th, 1889, and was installed Tuesday, May 21st.
The first year's report to Classis says : " The Sab- bath services have good and increasing attendance, and the Sunday night prayer meetings are largely attended. Eight have confessed Christ. A good spirit prevails in the congregation." At our meeting of the consistory, the last of the year, no elders were present owing to inclement weather. One candidate for membership presented himself and was received on confession by the rest of the consistory present, " because," as the pastor wisely and wittily remarks, " the reception of members is more important than constitutions."
April 6th, 1891, the consistory resolved to adopt The Church Hymnary.
May 15th, Jacob Snyder, C. Longendyke and Titus Osterhoudt were appointed a committee to contract for ceiling of Georgia pine under the gallery, which was done.
June 24th, 1891, paper for the church was selected and Howard Burhans was empowered to purchase it and put it on.
119
SUCCESSION OF MINISTERS.
Consistory's report to Classis of 1892, gives eighteen received on confession, and states that " more are taking part in our prayer meetings, and hence we have larger attendance and more interest."
Report of 1893, says: "The Christian Endeavor Society is growing, and the young are taking more interest in church matters."
The spring of 1896, the consistory evidently thought that they should observe Arbor Day, and so they appointed E. L. Griffin, Elliot Griffin, Charles Cramer and William Cheshire to plant trees around the church. The domine's family appear to have consti- tuted themselves a standing committee to plant trees and shrubs to beautify the parsonage grounds.
At a meeting of consistory, August 30th, 1896, it was resolved : " That we extend to Dr. and Mrs. George F. Shrady our sincere thanks for the entertain- ment given by them August 21st, for the benefit of our church."
During the year 1897, the windows of the church were replaced by the present ones. Among these we find one in memory of Rev. William B. Merritt, and one each for the Brink, Griffin and Osterhoudt fam- ilies, and one bearing the name of Josephine Polhemus Burhans, the gift of Mrs. Josephine Polhemus. Also,
I20
REFORMED CHURCH OF FLATBUSH, N. Y.
the Senior and Junior Endeavor Societies each donated a window.
April 30th, 1900, the consistory resolved : "That the Christian Endeavor Society be allowed to re-paper the church."
The same year the church was re-carpeted by the Ladies' Aid Society.
In January, 1901, Mr. De Witt was prostrated by severe sickness, and died the 20th of February, after a month's illness. He had passed his 61st birthday, the 2Ist of July, previous.
Thus, for the first time in its history, the Flatbush church sustained the loss of a pastor by death in the midst of his usefulness. This bereavement occasioned a severe shock and profound sorrow.
Our review of Mr. DeWitt's pastorate reveals con- tinuous harmony and a good spirit pervading the con- gregation, constant accessions to the church, liberal benevolence and successful working of the various church organizations. His ministry was wise, faithful and fruitful, he having welcomed eighty-five into the communion of the church on confession of their faith. In an unusual degree he enjoyed the confidence and love of his people. " Concerning the dead, only good must be spoken," is a familiar saying. We believe that concerning Rev. Richard DeWitt, only good can
REV. RICHARD DE WITT,
9
123
SUCCESSION OF MINISTERS.
be spoken. Next to that of Domine Overbagh, his pastorate of nearly twelve years has been the longest in the one hundred years of the church's life.
February 28th, 1901, a meeting of consistory was held at the house of Mr. L. H. Osterhoudt ; Elder Andrew Brink was chosen President and Deacon Elliot Griffin was elected Secretary. It was resolved : " That Mr. Andrew Brink confer with Rev. S. T. Cole in regard to drawing up resolutions on the death of our pastor." Such resolutions were prepared and adopted and are in part, as follows :
" Whereas, It has pleased Almighty God in his infinite wisdom to remove from our midst our honored and beloved pastor, Richard De Witt, and
" Whereas, The pleasant and intimate relations which for twelve years he held with the members of this consistory and congregation make it eminently fitting that we place upon record our appreciation of his ser- vices and regret at his loss ;
" Resolved, That this board of officers and members of his congregation will ever hold in grateful remem- brance the sterling qualities, patience and fervid zeal which he displayed in his work for his Lord and Master, Jesus Christ, among us.
" Resolved, That the sudden removal by death of our esteemed and honored pastor creates a vacancy,
124
REFORMED CHURCH OF FLATBUSH, N. Y.
which it is very hard to fill, and we fully realize and deeply deplore the loss to ourselves and to all of his people."
The minutes of General Synod for 1901 contain a tribute to Mr. De Witt which we copy :
" He was a wise and devoted pastor, and a faithful, able exponent of the Gospel. He was one of and with his people, and entered heartily into all their personal and social as well as church life. Hc never deemed any labor too hard, or any self denial to be a cross. He was a man of eminent good sense, a wise adviser and the recipient of the confidence of all. Modest in his self appreciation he was rated high by all who knew him."
Rev. S. T. Cole, of Katrine, acceptably supplied the church of Flatbush after the death of Mr. DeWitt until the settlement of the present pastor. He has occasionally preached there since then, giving the domine a rest and the people a change never " for the worse."
REV. PETER S. BEEKMAN.
Rev. Peter S. Beekman, having been called from the Reformed Church of Currytown, N. Y., began his min- istry at Flatbush, September Ist, 1901, and was installed
REV. PETER S. BEEKMAN.
127
SUCCESSION OF MINISTERS.
the 4th of that month. Many repairs and improvements have been made to the church property, mainly with funds provided by the Ladies' Aid Society. Among these have been a wood stove for the church in 1901 ; parsonage roof re-shingled and new gutters put on in 1902. In the spring of 1904, an American wire fence was built north and south of the parsonage and church grounds, material for which was given by the Christian Endeavor Society. The summer of that year the pas- tor and his wife, on their return from vacation, found that the kitchen had been wainscoted, ceiled with pine and the walls newly plastered. The halls also had been papered and painted ; all done by the Ladies' Aid Society
In 1905, the plaster was removed from outside of the west and south church walls, the stone pointed and new brick and stone coping placed on sides and tops of the windows. This was done at considerable expense, provided for by subscription.
The church has also been the recipient of timely gifts during this as well as previous pastorates. Mrs. John Thomas, in 1903, by an autograph quilt, secured $45.00, which she gave to the church. Messrs. John A. Steenken, John Tyler Washburn and Robert Main of Saugerties, as well as Washburn Brothers, have made various donations to the church, which have aided its
128
REFORMED CHURCH OF FLATBUSH, N. Y.
work and which are duly appreciated by its members. The summer of 1906, Mrs. George F. Shrady presented to the church a large, serviceable canvas tent.
A more personal gift also deserves mention. Christ- mas time, 1905, the pastor was handed a purse of $65.00 from the congregation and friends to use in the purchase of a fur coat. Such coat was bought and has proved of great service.
In 1906, the ladies of the congregation published a book of " Tried Receipts," 400 copies, which have had a ready sale, and which through the advertisements obtained, netted a profit of $150.00. About $100.00 for needed repairs was also realized from book of " Bricks," sold mostly by the juniors of the congrega- tion.
In 1904, the chapel at Glenerie was re-roofed and repaired at a cost of over $150.00.
The weekly envelope system of church collections for current expenses was begun February, 1906, and has been continued with gratifying success. Last fall two new chimneys were built from the floor of the church halls and two large oak heaters purchased.
The latest improvements are : To the church ; platform for choir built on the east side of the pulpit ; the church re-papered, painted and the pews re- cushioned ; also, the parsonage has been painted, blinds
129
SUCCESSION OF MINISTERS.
repaired and the dining room wainscoted, painted and papered.
The paper for the church was donated by Carroll Whitaker, Esq., of Saugerties.
The last report to Classis gives : "No. of families, 90; total in communion, revised roll, 178 ; No. of Sun- day Schools, 4; total enrollment, 216; total benev- olence, $156.67."
Besides the morning service at Flatbush and after- noon service at Glasco each Sunday, there is preaching service at Glenerie every third Sunday evening. A weekly prayer meeting is maintained at Flatbush, and a cottage prayer meeting every two weeks in the Glenerie district.
The " Lord of the harvest " has given manifesta- tions of his favor in spiritual as well as material things, sixty-two being received into the church on confession up to this time.
At a meeting of the old and new consistories, held May 12th, 1906, it was resolved : " That we observe the 100th anniversary of this church, which occurs June 9th, 1907, by services appropriate to that occa- sion."
The following persons were appointed a Centennial Committee : Joel Brink, chairman ; Thomas Ketterson , Henry Fonda, Mrs. Erastus Osterhondt, Mrs. Clarence
130
REFORMED CHURCH OF FLATBUSH, N. Y.
Davis, Mrs. Frank Brink and Miss Emily Griffin. To the above were added : Theodore Brink, Harry Davis, Miss M. Freda Van Alen and Miss Maye Osterhoudt, Historical Committee ; Miss Maymie Osterhoudt, Mu sic Committee and Mrs. B. I. Osterhoudt, Chairman of Committee on Entertainment ; L. H. Osterhoudt, Hiram Davis, Elliot Griffin, Mrs. Abram Turck, Mrs. Edmund Osterhoudt, Mrs. L. H. Osterhoudt, Com- mittee on Program ; W. H. TenBroeck, William L. Brink, Erastus Osterhoudt, Abram Hornbeck, B. I. Osterhoudt, Edward Vredenburgh, Willis Osterhoudt, Arthur Osterhoudt, C. E. Davis, Reception Committee.
The Centennial Exercises will be held on Wednes- day afternoon and evening, and Thursday morning, afternoon and evening, June 26th and 27th, 1907. No exact program can here be given, but it will include addresses by the three living ex-pastors, members of the church in the ministry, representatives of deceased pastors, ministers of the Classis and neighboring churches, former members of the congregation and others.
MEMBERS IN THE MINISTRY.
-
D URING its history of a hundred years, five members of the Flatbush church have entered the ministry of the Gospel. Of these, three were born and reared in the bounds of the congrega- tion, the other two coming to Flatbush in early man- hood. Two have died and one has been eight years without charge, owing to physical infirmity.
We make brief mention of these ministers in the order of their ordination.
REV. JOHN A. DAVIS.
Rev. J. A. Davis was a son of Peter Davis and Anna Osterhoudt, and was born at Flatbush, October 28th, 1839. He united with the church of Flatbush, April 18th, 1858, during the ministry of Dr. Gosman. He was a graduate of Rutgers College and the New Bruns- wick Seminary, and was licensed to preach by the Classis of Ulster, 1868. He was a missionary as well as minister, the only missionary as yet from the Flat- bush church. For the rest, we give in part the biog- raphy of Mr. Davis as contained in the manual of Dr. Corwin :
132
REFORMED CHURCH OF FLATBUSH, N. Y.
" He devoted himself to the work of Foreign Mis- sions, and was accepted by the Foreign Mission Board of the Reformed church and ordained to that end. After visiting the churches for several months he, and his wife, sailed for China and began their mission. ary labors at Amoy. But in less than two years his failing health required their return to the United States, in the autumn of 1870. Then again he served the Board in seeking to develop the missionary spirit among the churches, hoping the way might be opened for him to return to the foreign field. But it was not. However, his missionary zeal did not abate as was manifest in his future life. He had warm interest in the Interdenominational Missionary Conferences and did much to sustain them by his presence, counsels and vivid reports of their proceedings. Mr. Davis was a ready linguist and had excellent command of his mother tongue. He was an instructive and entertain- ing speaker in the pulpit and on the platform. He wrote frequent articles for the press, and published in all fourteen volumes, several of which were designed for the young.
.
" Socially, Domine Davis was genial and very cheerful. He sought to infuse his best life into others. His versatile genius and ardent ministerial life of about thirty years were spent usefully in the service of his
I33
MEMBERS IN THE MINISTRY.
Lord and Savior. After his return from China he was pastor successively of the Reformed churches of Pali- sades, Pottersville, Oyster Bay and Newark, N. J., and the Presbyterian churches of Hempstead and Nyack."
Mr. Davis died September 24th, 1897. He is sur- vived by a widow, two brothers, Hiram Davis, of Flat- bush and Rev. Titus E. Davis, of Washington, D. C., and three sisters, Mrs. Abram Turck, of Flatbush, Mrs. H. O. Peck, of Binghamton, N. Y., and Miss Martha Davis, of Kingston, N. Y.
REV. RICHARD PEARY MILLIKEN.
We glean the following account of the life and labors of Mr. Milliken from the minutes of the Gen- eral Synod of 1894, and from an obituary of Mrs. Mil- liken written by Rev. John A. Davis :
" He was left an orphan when very young, and having to labor for his own support received only a meagre education. He was first a sailor then boatman and mate on the Hudson river steamer 'Mayflower.' After his marriage, he resided first at Saugerties, then at Flatbush. Under the pastoral care of Rev. William B. Merritt, he was received on confession of faith into the membership of the Flatbush church, December 15th, 1867. The new convert at once became active
I34
REFORMED CHURCH OF FLATBUSH, N. Y.
in the church prayer meeting and Sunday School. He was an earnest student of the Bible and was very suc- cessful in winning souls. His own inclination and the advice of others led him to seek to enter the ministry. Having obtained the necessary dispensation from the usual course of preparation, he was examined and licensed by the Classis of Orange, in 1876. That year he was ordained and installed pastor of the Reformed Church of Grahamsville, N. Y., where he had previously labored during revival services with good results. During nine years of labor there he secured the erection of two new church buildings, and during the last six of these years he had the care of three churches, to each of which he preached every Sabbath. His extensive labors impaired his health and for relief he accepted a call to the Reformed Church of Dashville Falls, N. Y., where he had a repetition of his former successes.
"In 1887 he accepted a call to the Trinity Reform- ed church of Newark, N. J., which he served until his death in 1893. His pastorate at Newark was blessed as his earlier ones had been. The average additions on confession, to the churches under his pastoral care was above twenty, yearly, or about 330 souls won to Christ in a third of an ordinary pastoral life.
"This brother seems to have had a remarkably warm heart and an attractive manner and to have
135
MEMBERS IN THE MINISTRY.
crowned these natural gifts with full consecration to service and passion for the saving of souls.
" Mr. Milliken married Asenath Burhans of Flat- bush, to whose influence and assistance his success was largely due. She died in 1897 at the home of her son, A. R. Milliken, in Newark, N. J. Two sons and three daughters survive the parents."
REV. TITUS ELWOOD DAVIS.
Rev. Titus E. Davis is the youngest brother of Rev. John A. Davis mentioned above. He was born at Flat- bush and united with the church there during the min- istry of Mr. Merritt, September 17th, 1869. He was graduated from the college and seminary at New Bruns- wick and was licensed to preach by the Classis of Ulster in 1877. His charges have been Schagticoke and Valatia, N. Y., and Bound Brook, N. J. He is now pastor of the Westminster Church Memorial, Washing- ton, D. C.
REV. WALTER TIMOTHY GRIFFIN.
Rev. Walter T. Griffin is a son of David Griffin and Mary Lawrence and was born at Flatbush. He became a member of that church September 13th, 1867. Hav- ing graduated from the New Brunswick institutions in
136
REFORMED CHURCH OF FLATBUSH, N. Y.
1878, he was licensed by the Classis of Ulster and became that year pastor of the Central Avenue Re- formed Church of Jersey City. In 1881 he accepted a call to the Bedford Reformed Church of Brooklyn, which he served five years. In 1886 he was appointed United States Consul at Limoges, France, which post he held until a year ago. In 1881 Mr. Griffin pub- lished " The Homes of Our Country, Centres of Moral and Religious Influences," a volume of 640 pages.
REV. LOUIS HIEBER.
Rev. Louis Hieber was born at Landsberg, Bavaria, June 19, 1863. He was reared a Roman Catholic. While employed on the farm of Mr. D. Broadhead Hendricks at Flatbush, he became converted through meetings held at Rondout by Dwight L. Moody. He was received into the Flatbush church by Rev. A A. Zabriskie December 4, 1885. Encouraged and assisted by Mr. Hendricks, the pastor and later Rev. George J. Van Neste, he began to study for the ministry, having been recommended by the Classis to the Board of Education. He completed his studies at our college and seminary in 1892 and was licensed by the Classis of New Brunswick. He was pastor at Stuyvesant Falls, New Hyde Park, Blooming Grove and Cuddebackville
137
MEMBRES IN THE MINISTRY.
in the order named. Failing health then compelled Mr. Hieber to relinquish his work. He is now in the Masonic Home at Utica, N. Y. In a recent letter replying to an invitation to be present at the Flatbush Centennial he writes : " I am a shut in, nearly, suffer- ing much constantly and do not leave the home at all. I am just waiting for His call, meanwhile striving to honor the Lord in all He has in store for me. I can say with Job, 'It is good to be afflicted.' I bless Him for all, for Jesus never forsakes, and I realize the ful- fillment of all His promises as I need them."
10
ORGANIZATIONS.
I N the preceding sections we have spoken particularly of the pastors of the church and of those who have entered the ministry from its membership. In this one we give a summary of the organizations of the church, which have been and are being carried on by the members themselves.
An organization can scarcely exist without a place of meeting. Such places have been supplied not only by the church building, but also by the homes and school houses within the congregation. A word as to the location of the school houses. Besides one at Pine Bush and another at Glasco, there are two on the Flat- bush road ; the one a half mile south of the church, the other a mile north of East Kingston. At first there were schools in what was known as the north, the middle and the south districts. The north school house was originally stone and was replaced by a wood build- ing, which has since been enlarged and is still standing. The middle school first stood in a lot by the farm of Peter W. Whitaker. Later it was moved to the Peter Legg place. In the sixties this school house was abandoned and the district divided between the north and south districts. The south school was first held in
140
REFORMED CHURCH OF FLATBUSH, N. Y.
a stone building, opposite the Myer Davis farm, the walls of which are still standing. This school was next located on the mill brook at the east end of the Titus bridge road. From there it was removed to the pres- ent site of the South Flatbush school house.
In all of the school houses of our congregation prayer meetings and Sunday schools have been held, also occasional preaching services. Before the building of the chapels at Glasco and Glenerie, the pastor would sometimes preach at the houses on Sunday afternoons.
PRAYER MEETINGS.
Though not organized, these meetings, next to those of the sanctuary are the most essential to the spiritual life and power of the church and the surest index of its religious condition.
From the beginning of its history one or more have been regularly maintained in the Flatbush congrega- tion. In the time of Mr. Merritt as many as five were held weekly.
To sustain the prayer meetings as well as the Sun- day schools, a considerable number of lay workers has been needed. These have usually been recruited from the ranks of the members. We name a group of active, earnest workers within the memory of some members of our church :
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.